Erdmann (Wilhelm II.)
Erdmann (* 1890; † August 1901 in Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe ) was a short-haired dachshund and the favorite dachshund of Kaiser Wilhelm II. At the turn of the 19th to the 20th century, dachshunds were particularly popular as hunting dogs of the nobility . Hunting was a classically appropriate leisure activity for the emperor.
death
In August 1901, as in the previous ten years, the emperor lived in Wilhelmshöhe Palace for a few days in the summer . Erdmann, constant companion of the emperor, died during the monarch's summer stay - the exact day is not known, nor is any further background to the event. However, it must have happened after August 15, the day the emperor arrived, and before August 27, 1901, the day on which the emperor left Kassel again. The dachshund was probably buried in Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe . A grave memorial was erected on the Rose Island; It is not certain whether this is actually the grave or just a memorial that the emperor had built for his beloved dachshund. Since the memorial was first reported as a novelty in September 1903, it is likely that the emperor did not have the commemorative plaque placed until the summer of that year. However, Rose Island was usually closed to the public.
Commemoration
The emperor had a black stone tablet placed; it bears the gold-plated inscription “In memory of my faithful Dachshund / Erdmann 1890–1901 / W. II.”. The tomb is part of the Bergpark Kulturdenkmal under the Hessian Monument Protection Act and, since the Bergpark has meanwhile been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, part of this World Heritage Site .
The Kassel local group of the German Teckel Club 1888 took over the sponsorship of the monument in the year of its 50th anniversary and has been maintaining it ever since.
Further worth knowing
Other known dachshunds of the emperor are the witch , Liesel and badger , as well as Senta during the time of his exile in Haus Doorn .
literature
- Christina Hein: Emperor's vacation on Wilhelmshöh . In: HNA. Kassel 2000. No. 207. pp. 11-12.
- Markus Heller: Erdmann - A search for clues. In: The time. Hamburg 1993. No. 21. P. 68.
- [Wilhelm Hopf]: A new memorial in the Wilhelmshöhe grounds. In: Wilhelm Hopf (Hrsg.): Hessische Blätter. Edited by Wilhelm Hopf in connection with friends . Melsungen, September 30, 1903. Vol. 32, No. 2995, p. 4.
- M. Karkosch: Left behind at home . In: Worth seeing. Palaces & Gardens in Hesse - visitor magazine 4/2008, p. 35.
- NN: Erdmann's last territory. In: Kultur Magazin. Kassel 2005. No. 109. p. 9.
- W. Wicke: Animal Wilhelminism. In: Forget Hessen. Marburg 2003. pp. 113-116.
- D. Zblewski: Wanted: Erdmann. In: Kultur Theater Magazin. Kassel 1996. pp. 32-33.